Finding jeans that fit perfectly can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Sizing varies dramatically between brands, and the numbers on labels often bear little resemblance to actual measurements. The solution? Learning to take accurate measurements yourself. This skill will transform your shopping experience, whether you're buying online or preparing for a fitting room session.
Tools You'll Need
Before you begin measuring, gather the right equipment to ensure accuracy:
- Flexible measuring tape: The fabric kind used in sewing is ideal. Avoid metal measuring tapes, which don't curve properly around your body.
- A mirror: Helpful for checking that your tape is positioned correctly, especially for back measurements.
- A well-fitting pair of jeans: If you have jeans that fit well, measuring them can provide useful reference points.
- Notepad or phone: To record your measurements immediately.
Take measurements while wearing thin, close-fitting undergarments similar to what you'd wear with jeans. Measuring over thick clothing or shapewear will give you inaccurate results.
Essential Body Measurements
Natural Waist Measurement
Your natural waist is the narrowest part of your torso, typically located about 2-3 centimetres above your belly button. To find it accurately, bend slightly to the side—your natural waist is where your body creases. Wrap the measuring tape around this point, keeping it parallel to the floor. The tape should be snug but not tight; you should be able to slide a finger underneath comfortably.
While low rise jeans don't sit at your natural waist, this measurement is still useful for understanding size charts, as many brands reference it even for low rise styles.
Hip Measurement
For low rise jeans, your hip measurement is crucial because this is where the jeans will actually sit. Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks, usually about 18-23 centimetres below your natural waist. Stand with your feet together and keep the tape parallel to the floor. This is the measurement that will determine how low rise jeans fit around your hip area.
Low Hip Measurement
This additional measurement is particularly valuable for low rise jeans. Measure around your body at the exact point where you want your low rise jeans to sit—typically on your hip bones, about 7-10 centimetres below your belly button. This measurement helps predict how specific low rise styles will fit on your particular frame.
For low rise jeans, your low hip measurement is more important than your natural waist measurement. When comparing your measurements to size charts, pay attention to the hip measurements first.
Inseam Measurement
Your inseam determines the length of your jeans and affects how they stack or break at the ankle. There are two ways to measure inseam:
Method 1: Measuring Your Body
Stand straight with your feet about 15 centimetres apart. Have someone help you measure from the crotch point (where your inner thighs meet) straight down to the floor, following the inside of your leg. For the most accurate result, wear the shoes you plan to wear with your jeans during this measurement.
Method 2: Measuring Existing Jeans
If you have jeans with a length you love, lay them flat and measure from the crotch seam along the inner leg to the bottom hem. This method accounts for how much stacking or break you prefer at the ankle.
Rise Measurement
Understanding rise measurement is essential when shopping for low rise jeans. While you can measure rise on your body, it's often more accurate to measure existing jeans that fit well:
Lay the jeans flat with the zipper facing up. Measure from the centre of the crotch seam straight up to the top of the waistband at the front. This is the front rise. For a complete picture, also measure the back rise from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband at the back centre.
Rise measurements can vary significantly between brands, even for jeans labelled as the same rise category. Always check specific product measurements when available, rather than relying solely on terms like "low rise" or "mid rise."
Thigh and Knee Measurements
For those who carry more weight in their thighs or prefer a specific fit through the leg, these additional measurements can be helpful:
- Thigh: Measure around the fullest part of your upper thigh, usually just below where your leg meets your body.
- Knee: Measure around your leg at the centre of your kneecap with your leg slightly bent.
- Calf: Measure around the fullest part of your calf muscle.
- Ankle: Measure around your ankle bone.
Measuring Existing Jeans for Reference
Your favourite fitting jeans are a goldmine of measurement information. Here's how to extract useful data from them:
Waist Measurement
Button the jeans and lay them flat. Measure straight across the top of the waistband from one side to the other. Double this number for the full waist measurement. Note that the waistband measurement will be different from your body waist measurement due to ease and stretch.
Hip Measurement
With jeans still laid flat, measure across the widest part of the hip area, typically about 7-10 centimetres below the waistband. Double this number for the full hip measurement.
Leg Opening
Measure straight across the bottom hem of the jeans and double for the full leg opening. This measurement determines whether jeans are skinny, straight, bootcut, or wide leg.
Interpreting Size Charts
Armed with your measurements, you can now confidently interpret size charts. When comparing your measurements to a chart:
- If you fall between sizes, choose the larger size for non-stretch denim and the smaller size for jeans with significant stretch content.
- Prioritise the measurements most relevant to the jean style—hip measurements for low rise, waist for high rise.
- Account for fabric stretch. Jeans with higher elastane content (3% or more) will give more than rigid denim.
- Remember that denim typically stretches about 1-2 centimetres with wear, so a slightly snug fit often breaks in perfectly.
Recording and Using Your Measurements
Create a measurement card that you can reference whenever shopping for jeans. Include your natural waist, hip, low hip, inseam, and the key measurements from your best-fitting jeans. Update these measurements periodically, as body measurements can change over time.
When shopping online, compare your measurements directly to the product's size guide rather than assuming your usual size will work. Different brands and even different styles within the same brand can fit vastly differently.
With accurate measurements in hand, you'll dramatically reduce the frustration of ill-fitting purchases and increase the likelihood of finding jeans that look and feel exactly right from the first wear.